Can hens hatch chicks in the winter

[newpoultryppl]

So on the 15th I found our Silver laced Wyandotte dead in the coop I think he died from a heart attack or he fell and broke his neck during the night I'm not sure. That very same day my buff bantam decided she was going to go broody for the very first time. She is sitting on one of her eggs, two EE eggs, and one comet egg. Can she hatch them since it's so cold out?

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[BonRae67]

How cold are you talkin? She can because it is warm under her, but I have seen hens lose their lives trying to hatch eggs in the cold. What are you going to do with the babies if she does to keep them warm enough to hatch? Do you want her to hatch them? How many days has she been on them as of now? Sorry this seems like 20 questions.

 

[newpoultryppl]

She has only been on them 5 days. I never thought I was going to allow her to try to hatch them but since I lost the big guy and she went broody on the same day it just felt like it was meant to be. I am not really prepared for chicks but will do anything to help hatch this batch. Today the temps aren't too bad out but next week it is not suppose to get above 35 degrees.

 

[newpoultryppl]

Also I put a heat light in the coop to help keep it warm but they will not sleep with the light on. Should I put a radiator heater in there instead?

 

[BonRae67]

I am afraid of fire with heat lamps and you are right they don't sleep. I purchased today an infrared light. It omits heat but no light. It is actually for reptiles but it is working really good. (For my 4day old babies). You could put the heater in there. It is cold but not below zero cold that is good. It would be hard to take them away for me too if I had just lost the daddy of them. Sorry for your loss. I hope all goes well and a very successful hatch for you.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

I don't have much experience with broody hens. I do know that some people have broody hens hatch successfully in winter, however. In general, it is better to wait until spring.

 

[drumstick diva]

Hens can hatch chicks in winter but, whether they survive or not depends on how attentive the hens are. You only have a few eggs under her, I'm sure she will be able to cover them well. Just don't let other hens add to the number. Mark her eggs and remove any that aren't marked. Is she sitting inside the coop or outdoors? If outside maybe you can stack hay bales around them to keep the wind off. Do you have an incubator in case she decided to quit midstream?

 

[chickenman15]

every winter my hens hatch new chicks

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Make sure the hens have lots of warm feathers. Make sure the coop is filled with warm, dry bedding. You may need a heat lamp too.